Article by Ray S. Tarrant

Less than a month ago ago, Mom asked me for ideas on dessert. She was planning a dinner party – some out-of-town cousins were coming to visit. I told her, “Cheesecakes!” Alright, I’m biased. I just love these cakes, especially those using Cheesecake Factory restaurant recipes. I vetoed the New York and sour cream cheesecakes, though. Not that I didn’t like them, I do. But they are so easy to get in cake shops and restaurants. When Mom bakes cheesecakes, I want something not easily found in the local restaurants and shops – something using the Chicago or Pennsylvania Dutch recipes. Some of you will tell me that these aren’t uncommon. While that may be true where you live, this isn’t the case in my neighborhood.